Employer: South African Airways (SAA) Group
Division: Finance | Corporate Real Estate Services (CRES)
Industry: Aviation Infrastructure, Commercial Real Estate, Facilities Management & Electrical Engineering
Location: Kempton Park (OR Tambo International Airport Hub), Gauteng, South Africa
Position Type: 12-Month Fixed-Term Contract (STC) (Note: No expectation of permanent placement upon contract completion)
Compensation: Market-Related Aviation Facilities Contract Allowance
Posted Date: 24 October 2026
Closing Date: Tuesday, 27 October 2026
About SAA Corporate Real Estate Services (CRES) & The Role
South African Airways (SAA) is South Africa’s national flag carrier airline. The Corporate Real Estate Services (CRES) division oversees the continuous maintenance, safety compliance, and operational integrity of all SAA Group landside and airside facilities, hangars, corporate offices, and technical buildings.
SAA CRES is recruiting an experienced, safety-conscious Electrical Assistant (Ref: SAA261022-18) for a 12-month fixed-term contract based in Kempton Park. Working directly under qualified Electricians, the Electrical Assistant will support planned preventative maintenance (PPM), fault finding, distribution board repairs, lighting installation, generator/UPS backup maintenance, and emergency power failure responses across SAA facilities.
Key Accountabilities & Electrical Maintenance Workflows
The Electrical Assistant will execute core technical and facilities maintenance deliverables across six operational areas:
1. Routine Maintenance & Installations
- Preventative Maintenance: Assist Electricians with routine inspections and execution of planned preventative maintenance (PPM) schedules.
- Component Replacement: Assist with replacing lamps, light fittings, switches, sockets, and electrical accessories.
- Wiring & Containment: Assist in pulling electrical cables and installing conduits, trunking, and containment systems.
- Workspace Modifications: Support office churns, desk reconfigurations, and workspace electrical supply modifications.
2. Heavy Infrastructure & Backup Power Support
- Power Infrastructure: Assist in maintaining distribution boards (DBs), circuit breakers, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units, and backup diesel generators.
- Equipment Commissioning: Support commissioning activities for new electrical assets and testing equipment.
3. Breakdown Response & Standby Support
- Fault Finding: Assist in identifying electrical faults and attending to emergency service requests.
- Outage Restoration: Support the restoration of electrical services during power outages and participate in after-hours standby duties when required.
4. Safety, Compliance & Administrative Record-Keeping
- OHS Compliance: Strictly adhere to the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act, enforce Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) isolation safety protocols, and wear required PPE.
- Maintenance Admin: Help maintain electrical asset registers, record spare parts used, and complete job cards/maintenance logs.
Candidate Profile & Minimum Entry Requirements
To qualify for consideration under Ref: SAA261022-18, applicants must meet the following mandatory technical criteria:
- Educational Qualifications:
- Grade 12 / Matric or equivalent qualification at NQF Level 4 (Mandatory).
- Working at Heights Certificate (Mandatory).
- Basic Health & Safety training (Mandatory).
- Advantageous: N2 – N3 Certificate in Electrical Engineering OR a partially completed Electrical Trade Apprenticeship.
- Work Experience:
- 1 to 2 years’ experience in an electrical maintenance environment (Mandatory).
- Proven experience working with commercial building electrical systems and facilities management operations.
- Technical Knowledge:
- Working knowledge of electrical distribution systems, lighting, circuit breakers, DB boards, generators, and UPS systems.
- Familiarity with basic fault-finding techniques, electrical testing equipment, and Lockout/Tagout procedures.
- Personal Attributes:
- High attention to detail, team-oriented, reliable, punctual, and committed to strict safety standards.
- Willingness to participate in after-hours standby and emergency callouts.
Application Guidelines & Online Submission
- Verify Prerequisites: Ensure your CV explicitly lists your Grade 12, Working at Heights Certificate, basic safety training, and 1–2 years’ electrical maintenance experience.
- Online Portal: Submit your application directly via the official SAA Careers Portal searching Reference Number: SAA261022-18.
- Closing Deadline: Tuesday, 27 October 2026 (Late submissions will not be considered).
- Contract Terms: This is a 12-month fixed-term contract position with no expectation of permanent conversion.
Sample Selection & Electrical Interview Questions
Electrical Safety & Facility Maintenance
- Question (Lockout/Tagout): “What exact steps do you take when applying Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) safety procedures before assisting an Electrician on a main distribution board repair?”
- Question (Fault Finding): “How do you assist an Electrician in systematically locating a fault when an entire lighting circuit trips continuously on an RCD/ELCB?”
How to Apply
Apply online directly via the official South African Airways (SAA) Careers Portal:
- Employer: South African Airways (SAA) Group
- Division: Corporate Real Estate Services (CRES)
- Ref Number: SAA261022-18
- Location: Kempton Park, Gauteng
- Position: STC – Electrical Assistant (12 Months)
- Closing Date: Tuesday, 27 October 2026